Method and system for channel balancing and room tuning for a multichannel audio surround sound speaker system

Abstract

A system and method for providing channel balancing and room tuning for a multi-channel audio surround sound speaker system passes source audio to automatically configured multi-channel compensation filters to provide equalization on a per channel basis for speakers having differing response characteristics. The speakers correspond to each of the surround sound channels. To automatically configure the multi-channel compensation filters, a controller generates common room tuning deviation data based on the frequency response characteristic data of each of the speakers. In addition, the system and method also generates room corrected channel deviation data for each channel by correcting a selected speaker response based on room tuning compensation requirement data derived from the common room tuning deviation data. Automatic channel balancing is provided by determining channel balancing compensation requirement data based on the corrected channel deviation data for each channel.

What is clamed is:  
     
       1. A method of channel balancing and room tuning for a multichannel audio surround sound speaker system having a speaker associated with each of the multichannels and wherein the multichannels include at least a left channel, a right channel, a center channel, a left surround channel and a right surround channel, comprising the steps of: 
       sequentially transmitting a multichannel speaker test signal for each of the plurality of speakers in a room;  
       automatically analyzing a received multichannel test signal from each of the plurality of speakers and generating frequency response characteristic data for a given speaker based on the received multichannel test signal;  
       generating common room tuning deviation data based on correlating channel deviation data from all speakers;  
       generating room corrected channel deviation data for each channel by correcting a selected speaker response based on room tuning compensation requirement data derived from the common room tuning deviation data;  
       determining channel balancing compensation requirement data based on the corrected channel deviation data for each channel; and  
       equalizing source audio based on the common room tuning deviation data and the room corrected channel deviation data.  
     
     
       2. The method of claim  1  wherein the step of equalizing source audio includes passing source audio through automatically configured multichannel compensation filters to provide equalization on a per channel basis for speakers having differing response characteristics on a per channel pair basis. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim  1  wherein the step of sequentially transmitting the multichannel speaker test signal includes selectively switching the multichannel speaker test signal to each speaker and wherein the step of generating frequency response characteristic data for each speaker includes analyzing the received multichannel test signal for each speaker using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). 
     
     
       4. The method of claim  3  including the step of storing the frequency response characteristic data of each speaker and wherein the step of generating common room tuning deviation data includes determining volume difference data representing differences in volume levels between pairs of at least left and right speakers associated with the left and right channels based on the stored frequency response characteristic data. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim  1  wherein the step of generating common room tuning deviation data includes generating volume level difference data to facilitate channel specific room tuning. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim  5  wherein the step of equalizing source audio includes generating finite impulse response (FIR) filter coefficients and delay coefficients on a per channel basis based on the common audio compensation requirement data and the channel balancing compensation requirement data. 
     
     
       7. A method of channel balancing and room tuning for a multichannel audio surround sound speaker system having a speaker associated with each of the multichannels and wherein the multichannels include at least a left channel, a right channel, a center channel, a left surround channel and a right surround channel, comprising the steps of: 
       generating common room tuning deviation data based on correlating channel deviation data from all speakers;  
       generating room corrected channel deviation data for each channel by correcting a selected speaker response based on room tuning compensation requirement data derived from the common room tuning deviation data;  
       determining channel balancing compensation requirement data based on the corrected channel deviation data for each channel; and  
       equalizing source audio based on the common room tuning deviation data and the room corrected channel deviation data.  
     
     
       8. The method of claim  7  wherein the step of generating common room tuning deviation data includes comparing frequency response characteristic data associated with each channel to ideal response data and generating room tuning compensation requirement data, and wherein the step of generating room corrected channel deviation data includes comparing room tuned corrected channel response characteristic data to ideal response characteristic data. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim  7  including determining channel balancing compensation requirement data for the left and right channel, the left and right surround channel, and the center channel based on a frequency range of a low frequency channel. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim  7  wherein the step of equalizing source audio includes passing source audio through automatically configured multichannel compensation filters to provide equalization on a per channel basis for speakers having differing response characteristics on a per channel pair basis. 
     
     
       11. A channel balancing and room tuning system for a multichannel audio surround sound speaker system having a speaker associated with each of the multichannels and wherein the multichannels include at least a left channel, a right channel, a center channel, a left surround channel and a right surround channel, comprising: 
       means for sequentially transmitting a multichannel speaker test signal for each of the plurality of speakers in a room;  
       means for receiving the transmitted multichannel speaker test signal for each of the plurality of speakers in the room;  
       means, operatively coupled to the means for receiving, for automatically analyzing the received multichannel test signal from each of the plurality of speakers and for generating frequency response characteristic data for a given speaker based on the received multichannel test signal;  
       means, responsive to the frequency response characteristic data, for generating common room tuning deviation data based on correlating channel deviation data from all speakers,  
       means, responsive to the frequency response characteristic data, for generating room corrected channel deviation data for each channel by correcting a selected speaker response based on room tuning compensation requirement data derived from the common room tuning deviation data;  
       means, responsive to the room corrected channel deviation data, for determining channel balancing compensation requirement data based on the room corrected channel deviation data for each channel; and  
       means, responsive to the means for generating common room tuning deviation data and to the means for generating room corrected channel deviation data, for equalizing source audio based on the common room tuning deviation data and the room corrected channel deviation data.  
     
     
       12. The system of claim  11  wherein the means for equalizing source audio passes source audio through automatically configured multichannel compensation filters to provide equalization on a per channel basis for speakers having differing response characteristics on a per channel pair basis. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim  11  wherein the means for sequentially transmitting the multichannel speaker test signal includes means for selectively switching the multichannel speaker test signal to each speaker and wherein the means for generating frequency response characteristic data for each speaker analyzes the received multichannel test signal for each speaker using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). 
     
     
       14. The system of claim  13  including means for storing the frequency response characteristic data of each speaker and wherein the means for generating common room tuning deviation data determines volume difference data representing differences in volume levels between pairs of at least left and right speakers associated with the left and right channels based on the stored frequency response characteristic data. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim  11  wherein the means for generating common room tuning deviation data generates volume level difference data to facilitate channel specific room tuning. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim  15  wherein the means for equalizing source audio generates finite impulse response (FIR) filter coefficients and delay coefficients on a per channel basis based on the common audio compensation requirement data and the channel balancing compensation requirement data. 
     
     
       17. A channel balancing and room tuning system for a multichannel audio surround sound speaker system having a speaker associated with each of the multichannels and wherein the multichannels include at least a left channel, a right channel, a center channel, a left surround channel and a right surround channel comprising: 
       means, responsive to frequency response characteristic data, for generating common room tuning deviation data based on correlating channel deviation data from all speakers,  
       means, responsive to the frequency response characteristic data, for generating room corrected channel deviation data for each channel by correcting a selected speaker response based on room tuning compensation requirement data derived from the common room tuning deviation data;  
       means, responsive to the room corrected channel deviation data, for determining channel balancing compensation requirement data based on the room corrected channel deviation data for each channel; and  
       means, responsive to the means for generating common room tuning deviation data and to the means for generating room corrected channel deviation data, for equalizing source audio based on the common room tuning deviation data and the room corrected channel deviation data.  
     
     
       18. The system of claim  17  including means for determining common audio compensation requirement data for all speakers based on the common room tuning deviation data. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim  17  including means for determining channel balancing requirement data for the left and right channel pair, the left and right surround channel pair, the center channel and the low frequency channel based on the room corrected channel deviation data. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim  17  wherein the means for equalizing source audio passes source audio through automatically configured multichannel compensation filters to provide equalization on a per channel basis for speakers having differing response characteristics on a per channel pair basis.